Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-07-15
THE DRY GOODS TRADE.
"GATH" INTERVIEWS THE MANAGER
OF A RICH NEW YORK HOUSE.

Extracts from the Conversation of a Bush
ness Man-America's Silk Trade-An Ex-
traordinary Growth-Broadcloth - Rib
bons-Best Months for Trade.
'1What is the greatest fact in the dry
goods business?'
'sThe greatest recent fact is the appro-
priation of the silk trade by the Americans.
Nearly all the silks used are now made in
this country, whereas it was supposed pre-
posterous twenty years ago for the Amerl-
cans to undertake to weave silk. Not only
has this work been done by American
capital; but it has brought to the country
foreigners who had failed on the other
side of the ocean, and have replaced them
selves in wealth in this country. Here is
the firm of j. One of the men in that
house came to me about a fortnight ago
and said white we were joking together:
DO you know what L am worth now?' He
then told me that he was worth $S00, 00O.
Now, about fifteen years ago he and his
family came to the United States bank
rupts from France. They commenced
business in New York, weaving in one
room, and if they had another room to
live in they were lucky. They went on
lcthluSS VI q COululy WhClC
everybody wants a silk dress, until they
have magnificent factory, and as they
never lost their French Bohemian charac-
teristics, they entertain a good deal in the
open air and after their own fashion with
musicales and breakfasts
"Has the Introduction of silk into
American manufacture cheapened the
article?"
ooh my, yes. I was looking over
bill we had against an estate recently.
Sometimes, when there is a large Gus
toner or large family in long relations
to the store, the account is allowed to run
over period Of years, payments being
made on it from time to time. 1 called
the attention of my associates to the prices
demanded for hat silk-$6 and 81 yard.
Now about the very highest silk we sell
is $1.50 yard. If anybody comes in and
goes above So for silk, we open our eyes
and think the world is coming to an end.
In those old days Sc yard was about the
average for good silk. We sell black
silks for ninety cents a yard, and they go
even lower than that"
''What has caused the enormous con-
sumption of these silks?"
ssThe democratic habits and feeling of
equality; every servant girl, every shop
girl wants silk dress, and she wants to
walk in the street with it. Not even in
Lyons are ladies seen on the streets
wearing silks. So America supplies the
most magnificent market perhaps on the
globe for cheap silks and New York city
leads the country. The women here want
to be Stylish
''Do you now sell as much broadcloth
as formerly?n
s'No. The only persons who buy
broadcloth suits now are those who want
to wear cloth six years. Those old
fashioned people are very scarce. Light
figured goods, such as the Americans
make or the French or the Germans and
English suit these times much better than
heavy, stiff broadcloths. Consequently,
the English broadcloth trade has suffered,
not from competition, for they still do
about all there is of it. It,has been cut
down by a want of consumption. The
Americans wear checks figures, mixed
goods, which are not expected to last more
than year"
'sHow do you divide the dry goods bust
nees in relative Importance of branches?"
cat the head is the silk department.
Next come dress goods. Finally we put
housekeeping goods such as tablecloths,
napkins, blankets. Silk still being about
the highest in price and the most in de-
mand makes the aggregate OF sales in that
department the highest. -
siDo the Americans make many rib.
bons?''
''Tney make cheap ribbons, gay rib
bons, those things which look pretty, but
they do not go into the Swiss and French
ribbon business, with very elaborate bro
caded and embossed designs. The
American taste is getting very near the
American way of manufacture. For q
good while sensible women would not buy
American silks, and so they had to buy
them under the delusion that they were
foreign silks When they found out that
they had been cheated they had to
come i'm
(which are the best months in the
year for business in New York city, and
which are the worst?''
1.-THE best month is December. Christ
mas and New Years together make uni
versal holiday The Hebrews are as stout
for New Years as the Christians are for
Christmas. In many cases they begin to
buy the Christmas goods six weeks and
two months before Christmas arrives.
January is also good month in the re-
tail stores, because then housewives start
to make up their summer goods, and to be
ready for the incoming year, they replen-
ish their linen closets, overlook their bed
ding, tear down their curtains, etc. Feb
ruary is little less effective than Janu-
airy. The three summer months show
the greatest Shrinkage, or rather from
July to September. "-'Gath'' in Cincin-
matt EnoI1irer